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I don't like how they worded it since there is no option for people outside PGC who want to have table games in existing casinos but don't want the National Harbor casino built. There should be one questions about table games and another question about expansion to PG County. One the other hand, if its defeated I'm sure there will be new legislation on table games alone which will be debated in the general session, which is good as that will take up time they would otherwise spend coming up with more of their liberal agenda and tax hikes like the gas tax hike. Casino money should also be partially earmarked for transportation IMO to prevent gas tax increases.
WHile I live in Baltimore County, I do think the revenue from PG County can benefit the entire state....its not like Arundel Mills or Perryville will close down so the jobs will still be there. Also the potential gamblers from Virginia and the Carolinas who may make the trip up. I also think they should consider casino boats in the Potomac River from National Harbor, if that can be more palatable if they are that concerned about preventing local residents from losing their money.
Its cool how far our mentality here in Maryland has changed. In the early 90s, cruise ships going to and from Baltimore couldn't even open their casinos until they were out of Maryland territorial waters (apparently the ships were allowed to open the casinos in Virginia waters). They then rewrote the law so that a cruise ship can open its casino in state waters IF its sailing to a foreign destination in order to prevent gambling cruises to nowhere. They were that serious about prevnting gambling here. Even more so than Bible Belt places like Mississippi and Louisiana. I am from Louisiana originally and there was less opposition to casinos than there were to things like strip clubs or abortion clinics. Gambling like alcohol is not a sin if done in moderation.
Also I don't think having casinos leads to that many social problems. The crime rate in Las Vegas is lower than that in Baltimore, Washington DC, Richmond, Philadelphia or PG County. If anythin the new Baltimore City casino will gentrify part of the current ghetto where the site is located and price some of the ghetto people out of the city or away from the downtown area. Not that this is good for us in the suburbs.......so if the Baltimore City casinos brings crime it will be to the surrounding counties.
Interesting comments. You're right, if it is defeated another legislation will come but it would have to be after O'Malley leaves office since he does not want to entertain it anymore and Miller would not want another legislation without PG being in the picture.
From what I read in the Post and the Sun is that, the reason why it was worded that way, the governor stated that he would sign an all or nothing referendum. Either the new casino and the table games or no expansion at all. One delegate tried to introduce an amendment to separate the two issues but that died within minutes. Given that MD wants to be competitive with other states the referendum was consolidated. Its interesting that you state that gambling like alcohol is not considered a sin if don in moderation. There are a lot or religious leaders etc. that would disagree with that position.
Its not surprising that attitudes have changed. That is a natural progression of society and is what moved us from slavery, women's suffrage, prohibition, etc.
Yes see I consider myself a religious conservative. I am against gay marriage and abortion and participated in Chick fil A apprecaition day. I'm also conservative overall and actually helped personally collect over 500 signatures to get the illegal alien tuition bill onto the ballot too. Now we have 4 ballot measures here in Maryland in the same election and it will be very interesting. There are also different groups of religious leaders with different levels of support for different issues. Some of the same religious groups in PG County probably are okay with gay marrraige or abortion. Gambling is a unique issue in that I don't think there is a certain way Democrats vs Republicans stand like when it comes to illegal immigration, taxes, abortion, gay marriage, gun rights, or the death penalty. There are pro-business Republicans who support gambling as a way to keep taxes low and to attract more revenue and commercialism to a state or region, and religious conservatives who are against gambling as a sin. The Bible never says that we cannot gamble. I have never had a pastor who preached against gambling, even as they preached against gay marriage. Many denominations have alcohol in services like the Catholics. With Democrats, socially liberals who love Planned Parenthood, strip clubs, liquor stores and adult video stores would certainly typically not have a problem with casinos. But there is a branch of them that always bring race into the issue and talk about how minorities are adversely affected, how it destroys lives, etc. And I think some liberals simply love high taxes. There is also a subgroup of the liberal elite who just think casinos are "tacky", just like they are against fast food restaurants or Walmart in some parts of Montgomery County and Howard County, just like those who dont' even want highway billboards or lots of advertising in front of businesses. I believe in personal responsibility and showing restraint when going to the casino. Like McDonalds, nobody forces you to gamble. Just like nobody forces you to drink or smoke or commit crimes like illegally coming to america.
O'Malley is a terrible governor and nobody outside of Montgomery and PG and Baltimore City likes him. I don't know why he was so against Ehrlich's gambling. From the start, we should have allowed table games, riverboat gambling, 24 hour casinos, and free alcoholic drinks in the casino to people who are gambling. We need to maximize revenue however we can. We have a terrible state government obsessed with raising taxes and funding liberal social programs like expanding Medicaid coverage. While I would love Obama to lose and Republicans take over Congress and overturn Obamacare, that may just be worse for Maryland since if the federal government cuts those liberal social entitlement programs, our state government and other liberal state governments like California and New York and New Jersey will just raise state taxes to fund more. We don't even know if Obamacare will survive and the liberals in Annapolis are already planning on expanding Medicaid elgibility. They are also trying to attract more illegal immigrants to Maryland.
Yes see I consider myself a religious conservative. I am against gay marriage and abortion and participated in Chick fil A apprecaition day. I'm also conservative overall and actually helped personally collect over 500 signatures to get the illegal alien tuition bill onto the ballot too. Now we have 4 ballot measures here in Maryland in the same election and it will be very interesting. There are also different groups of religious leaders with different levels of support for different issues. Some of the same religious groups in PG County probably are okay with gay marrraige or abortion. Gambling is a unique issue in that I don't think there is a certain way Democrats vs Republicans stand like when it comes to illegal immigration, taxes, abortion, gay marriage, gun rights, or the death penalty. There are pro-business Republicans who support gambling as a way to keep taxes low and to attract more revenue and commercialism to a state or region, and religious conservatives who are against gambling as a sin. The Bible never says that we cannot gamble. I have never had a pastor who preached against gambling, even as they preached against gay marriage. Many denominations have alcohol in services like the Catholics. With Democrats, socially liberals who love Planned Parenthood, strip clubs, liquor stores and adult video stores would certainly typically not have a problem with casinos. But there is a branch of them that always bring race into the issue and talk about how minorities are adversely affected, how it destroys lives, etc. And I think some liberals simply love high taxes. There is also a subgroup of the liberal elite who just think casinos are "tacky", just like they are against fast food restaurants or Walmart in some parts of Montgomery County and Howard County, just like those who dont' even want highway billboards or lots of advertising in front of businesses. I believe in personal responsibility and showing restraint when going to the casino. Like McDonalds, nobody forces you to gamble. Just like nobody forces you to drink or smoke or commit crimes like illegally coming to america.
O'Malley is a terrible governor and nobody outside of Montgomery and PG and Baltimore City likes him. I don't know why he was so against Ehrlich's gambling. From the start, we should have allowed table games, riverboat gambling, 24 hour casinos, and free alcoholic drinks in the casino to people who are gambling. We need to maximize revenue however we can. We have a terrible state government obsessed with raising taxes and funding liberal social programs like expanding Medicaid coverage. While I would love Obama to lose and Republicans take over Congress and overturn Obamacare, that may just be worse for Maryland since if the federal government cuts those liberal social entitlement programs, our state government and other liberal state governments like California and New York and New Jersey will just raise state taxes to fund more. We don't even know if Obamacare will survive and the liberals in Annapolis are already planning on expanding Medicaid elgibility. They are also trying to attract more illegal immigrants to Maryland.
This was....an interesting comment to say the least.
MGM is also competing to build a similar 800M project on a similar sized parcel in Springfield MA. The article below provides renderings of the project. This could be a preview (prior to modifying for PG zoning standards and NH building requirements) of what may come to the NH in 2016.
Why does every community that builds a casino call it a "las vegas style casino". The only place I have seen a las vegas syle casino is las vegas. Even the biggest casinos outside of vegas are just big casinos.
And an 800 million dollar casino is nothing compared to the casinos in vegas.
Why does every community that builds a casino call it a "las vegas style casino". The only place I have seen a las vegas syle casino is las vegas. Even the biggest casinos outside of vegas are just big casinos.
And an 800 million dollar casino is nothing compared to the casinos in vegas.
Just saying.
I don't know..............point of reference I guess. It does get a little old though. They need a good Ad Agency . You're right, 800M is not as much as you find in Vegas but it is the biggest single development (in terms of casinos) for PG thus far. My guess is that when all things are said and done the investment would exceed the billion mark with additions, cost escalations, and over-runs.
Is the cost of the development the largest outside of Las Vegas in the states?
I don't think so. There are a couple of projects proposed that are over the billion dollar mark but it is definitely on the higher end. As I have been reading out these types of developments and their impacts most of the projects float between 3-4 hundred million. That said it is definitely on the upper end. Most of the projects on the higher end are not only for a casino/hotel but a "destination" that includes a variety of amenities for gamblers and non-gamblers (shopping,restaurants, performance venues, museums,clubs/bars,etc.) .
Pretty weak in my opinion, but I like how the article mentioned the perception that poor African American communities are somehow more prone to addictions than others. Like I said before, those people who have the addictions will drive to Maryland Live or the Horse Races if no Casino was built at National Harbor. Could there be more addicts because of the proximity of the casino? I guess. I would like to see studies though on just how many new addicts there are after a new casino is built within 5 miles of them. Like I said before, casinos offer so much more than gambling. At least the bigger ones. The Casino at NH will not be some big warehouse filled with slots. There will be a mall, restaurants (good ones that may rival those in D.C.), a 4 star hotel, shows, etc. I'm looking forward to those things more so than slots and table games. And as another person said, Casinos can be great social venues just like bars are for happy hour.
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